A Topeka man was sentenced today to life in prison for murdering his former co-worker.Twenty-five year old Deon Ross was sentenced in Pottawatomie District Court for killing 18-year-old Alheli Alcantara last October.
The judge agreed to county attorney Sherri Schuck's recommendation of consecutive sentences for Ross. He'll serve life in prison for Alcantara's murder, plus five years for her kidnapping.
“As far as the law goes, yes, it's very fair,” Schuck said. “As far as the family and the pain goes, obviously, there will be nothing fair about that for a very long time.”
Ross and Alcantara were co-workers at a southeast Topeka Burger King. Throughout Monday's hour long hearing, Ross kept his head down and was quiet.
“I just pray that the family - you can't bring her back - but I pray that they have peace,” Ross’s mother, Belinda Key, said after the sentencing. “Bring them peace. Peace, and have mercy on their soul and my son.”
Alcantara's family had the chance to address Ross. Her mother, sister, cousin and several family friends took that opportunity to speak with very emotionally charged statements.
“Like I told him, my daughter died in that way,” Margarita Alcantara, Alheli’s mother, said. “He needs to ask himself in which way he's going to die.”
The judge also denied Ross's request to have visitation with his parents, his newborn daughter, and his child's mother. Ross will have other chances in the future to request visitation.
“It's unsatisfying,” Schuck said. “We got the maximum under the law. But as a human being, it's not nearly enough.”
Ross killed Alcantara on October 12th last year and dumped her body outside a Quality Inn in Manhattan.
Reporter: Amy Wolf
Pool photographer
